KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo is the nation's premier laboratory for investing in children as a means of economic development and creating a K-16 system of free public education, said Janice Brown, executive director of The Kalamazoo Promise.

So far, so good, Brown says.

It was Brown, then superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools, who launched The Promise in November 2005. Funded by anonymous donors, the programs provides college scholarships to all KPS graduates who have lived in the district and attended KPS through at least high school and attend a Michigan public college.

Starting with the Class of 2006, 91 percent of Promise-eligible students -- including those from alternative education programs -- have enrolled in at least one semester of college, an astonishing statistic in a high-poverty, majority-minority school district.

Just as important, The Promise has proven a catalyst for Kalamazoo Public Schools to move the needle on academic achievement. Math and reading scores have improved, more students are testing as college-ready on the ACT exam and the graduation rate has gone up across demographic groups.

Meanwhile, KPS students -- even those who struggled in high school -- are doing better in higher education. While many at-risk students have used the Promise to start college only to flunk out, a new round of data released this week indicates more of the struggling students are passing their classes and grade-point averages are slowly inching up.

The initial college graduation numbers also are impressive, although
only data for the Class of 2006 have been tallied since graduation rates
are usually calculated six years after students enter college.

All of these are significant achievements at a time when policymakers in Michigan and nationwide are scrambling for strategies to improve educational outcomes, especially among low-income and minority children.

So what are the lessons learned so far from The Promise?

1. Don't underestimate the power of a place-based scholarship program.

Much of that power is psychological: By all accounts, the improvement in academic outcomes have occurred because of a multitude of reforms, large and small, within KPS, reinforced by number of community efforts to improve children's lives outside of school.

None of those programs have received money from The Promise. In theory, none require the existence of a Promise-type program.

But in reality, it took The Promise to galvanize and focus KPS staff, parents and students and the larger community to begin the creation of a college-going culture in poor neighborhoods.

2. It takes a village.

Brown said that efforts to improve academic achievement are too-often "school-centric," with all the reforms are aimed at the school system.

But research is clear that children's success or failure in school is highly correlated to their lives outside of school, especially their families and neighborhoods. So it stands to reason, Brown says, that outcomes won't improve without change in the larger community.

Key to Kalamazoo's success has been a long list of community initiatives
inspired by The Promise to start creating widespread culture change.

Those initiatives have ranged from parenting classes,
to summer and afterschool programs, to adult literacy efforts, to using Sunday Schools and sports
organizations to help reinforce the importance of literacy and education.

"You have to take a holistic approach," Brown said.

3. Broaden the definition of a college education.

In too many circles, Brown says, "college education" is synonymous with a bachelor's degree.

But in promoting the vision of college for all, she said, it's important to broaden that vision to include any post-secondary program, from apprenticeships to certification programs to associate degrees.

"These are honorable, respectable choices" that shouldn't be stigmatized, Brown said. "These programs often lead to well-paying jobs" -- indeed, jobs often more lucrative than the going salary for, say, an art history major.

4. Free college gives new graduates more choices and options.

Many Promise recipients have gained new appreciation for their power of The Promise as they see their classmates burdened by college loans.

Brown said that it appears the potential of graduating from college debt-free gives students more flexibility in choosing a carer or deciding whether to get a graduate degree. It also provides an immediate boost in income compared to peers who are paying off loans.

5. Coordination between K-12 and higher ed programs is essential.

As Kalamazoo has implemented its vision of giving every student the opportunity for post-secondary schooling, Brown said the community has been extraordinarily fortunate to have both a well-regarded community college and a major research university in its backyard.

In fact, a third of The Promise students have gone to Kalamazoo Valley Community College and another third have gone to Western Michigan University, which means two-thirds of Promise students are staying in Kalamazoo County.

Having a critical mass of students in those institutions and having them close by has allowed those schools to work closely with KPS on strategies to ease the transition from high school to college.

"We're really humbled and appreciative at how WMU and KVCC have stepped up," Brown said. "They've done so much to accommodate our students," and those efforts are benefiting not just KPS graduates but all freshmen at both schools.6. Affordability is but one barrier to higher education.

Almost immediately after lauching The Promise, Brown said, it became apparent that free college does not guarantee college success.

"We've had to learn how to address the issues of access, achievement, attitude and aspirations," she said, which requires getting students ready of college on a variety of fronts.

One of the huge advantages of The Promise has been that the combination of private dollars and anonymous donors has shielded the program from political bickering and bureaucratic red tape.

That has allowed for several major policy changes since The Promise was instituted. For instance, the program now allows students to access scholarship money for up to 10 years after they graduate high school and to attend college part time.

It also protected the program from criticism that would have been inevitable with public funding. For instance, in the initial years, Promise students who attended KVCC in the program's intitial years failed about half of the classes they enrolled in -- arguably, a major waste of scholarship dollars.

But Brown and Michelle Miller-Adams, a political scientist who has studied The Promise, say a big part of The Promise's appeal in poor neighborhoods -- and its power as a lever in creating culture change -- is the program's willingness to fund any KPS graduate regardless of skill level and its willingness to provide second chances.

Brown describes The Promise as a social experiment on investing in human capital.

"This is really, really challenging work," Brown said. "Having The Promise doesn't make it easy, but it does provide an incredible motivator. It's the gift at the end of the tunnel."